Maine Dem Gov Janet Mills approval rating tanks amid Trump Title IX battle: Morning Consult poll

Maine Democrat Governor Janet Mills is the second-most disapproved-of governor in the country, according to a new poll. This comes as the state is battling with the Trump administration over the state’s allowance of trans-identified males in women’s sports in violation of an executive order signed by Trump in February.

The latest Morning Consult governor approval rating poll, released on April 10 and updated quarterly, revealed that Mills has a disapproval rating of 44 percent, outdone only by Republican Iowa Governor Kim Reynolds, who has a disapproval rating of 49 percent.

Mills has the highest disapproval rating of any Democrat governor, being trailed by Rhode Island’s Daniel McKee and Oregon’s Tina Kotek, who both had a disapproval rating of 41 percent, and New York’s Kathy Hochul and California’s Gavin Newsom, who both had a disapproval rating of 40 percent. 

Mills’ approval rating sits at 51 percent, down from 54 percent in the fourth quarter of 2024, with her disapproval rating rising from 39 percent in the fourth quarter of 2024 to 44 percent. In March, women's rights protesters gathered outside the State House in protest of Maine allowing biological males in women's sports, with the protest being dubbed the "March Against Mills." 

This comes as the state has undertaken a battle against the Trump administration over the allowance of biological males in women's sports. In February, Trump signed an executive order barring biological males from competing in women's sports. Schools that allow such a thing to happen risk losing their federal funding. 

Shortly after the order was signed, Trump criticized Mills at a White House governors' meeting, in which Trump confronted Mills over the continued practice of allowing biological males in women's sports. "You better comply, because otherwise you’re not getting any federal funding," he said. Mills replied, "see you in court," to which Trump said, "Good, I’ll see you in court."

The case is now heading to the courts, with the Department of Justice announcing on Wednesday morning that it is suing the Maine Department of Education over violations of Title IX. Attorney General Pam Bondi told reporters, "the state of Maine is discriminating against women by failing to protect women in women’s sports, pretty basic stuff. This is a violation of Title IX. The Department of Justice will not sit by when women are discriminated against in sports."

In a statement to WMTW regarding the suit, Mills said, "Today is the latest, expected salvo in an unprecedented campaign to pressure the State of Maine to ignore the Constitution and abandon the rule of law. This matter has never been about school sports or the protection of women and girls, as has been claimed, it is about states' rights and defending the rule of law against a federal government bent on imposing its will, instead of upholding the law."

She later added, "For nearly two months, Maine has endured recriminations from the Federal government that have targeted hungry school kids, hardworking fishermen, senior citizens, new parents, and countless Maine people. We have been subject to politically motivated investigations that opened and closed without discussion, leaving little doubt that their outcomes were predetermined. Let today serve as warning to all states: Maine might be among the first to draw the ire of the federal government in this way, but we will not be the last."